The extended spell of milder weather should have all residents of the province thinking about securing bear attractants, says Kathy Murray from WildSafe BC

Murray says that with the mild temperatures and shallow snow pack, it is very likely bears will be out of hibernation soon.

While most sows will have their cubs the last week of January, they tend to stay in the dens until April feeding from their mother. That may not happen this year.

乌鸦传媒淚t would depend on the health of the female,乌鸦传媒� Murray said. 乌鸦传媒淗ow much body fat she had going into hibernation.乌鸦传媒�

In any event, expect bear activity soon and take appropriate action.

乌鸦传媒淭he message to all of us is, if we do have an early spring, bears are going to be looking for food.乌鸦传媒�

While the first food source may be new spring plants, in some areas like the Kootenays and the north, we are weeks away from any type of growth. Bears will head into urban areas looking for an easy food source.

乌鸦传媒淪pring is the best time of year to keep wildlife wild,乌鸦传媒� Murray said. 乌鸦传媒淚f they get an opportunity to get into garbage, they are not going back into the wild.乌鸦传媒�

Murray says in the winter the attitude may be, there乌鸦传媒檚 no bears around so there乌鸦传媒檚 no need to secure garbage. That has to change, she says.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e had no reports of bears yet, but once they start emerging, it乌鸦传媒檚 too late.乌鸦传媒�

Unfortunately for those who enjoy feeding birds in the winter, this also means you should be taking your feeders down.

乌鸦传媒淎 feeder full of birdseed is 2,000 calories. That乌鸦传媒檚 a quick and easy meal for a bear. It乌鸦传媒檚 time to think about bear-proofing your yard.乌鸦传媒�

Murray also reminds property owners that anything that attracts a bear will also attract other pests, such as raccoons and rats.

乌鸦传媒淭alk to your friends and neighbours about bear proofing now,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭he end results are safer communities for people and wildlife.乌鸦传媒�